Apparatus for receiving cigarettes from the cut-off of a continuous rod cigarette-making machine



June 19, 1962 D. w. MOLINS ET AL 3,039,589

APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING CIGARETTES FROM THE CUT-OFF OF A CONTINUOUS ROD CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mar, Z4, @644 '1 0,27."

,477'02/VEXS June 19, 1962 D. w. MOLINS ET AL 3,039,589

APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING CIGARETTES FROM THE CUT-OFF OF A CONTINUOUS ROD CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1960 5 SheetsSheet 2 men 5K9 June 19, 1962 D. w. MOLINS ET AL 3,039,589

APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING CIGARETTES FROM THE CUT-OFF, OF A CONTINUOUS ROD CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w, K4 y (442;,

ATE/6V5) June 19, 1962 D. w. MOLINS ET AL 3,039,589

APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING CIGARETTES FROM THE CUT-OFF OF A CONTINUOUS ROD CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 19, 1962 D. w. MOLINS ET AL 3,

APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING CIGARETTES FROM THE CUT-OFF OF A CONTINUOUS ROD CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 1, 1960 United States Patent 3,039,539 APFARATUS FGR RECEEVIN G CHGARETIES FRGM THE CUT-{EFF OF A CGNTINUGUS RUE GIGA- RETTE-MAKING MACHINE Desmond Walter Molins, and Cyril. Best, London, England, assignors to Molins Machine Company Limited, London, England, a company of Great Britain Fiied Feb. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 5,933 Claims priority, application Great Britain Feb. it), 1959 7 (Ilaims. (Ell. 19831) This invention concerns apparatus for receiving cigarettes from the cut-off of a continuous rod cigarette-making machine.

Cigarettes cut from a rod in a continuous rod cigarettemaking machine are delivered on to a conveyor band (known as a catcher band) which moves at right angles to the rod line. Whenever cigarettes are tipped, or have circumferential printing, or are in any way marked so that one end differs from the other it is necessary to separate the cigarettes into two lots so that two parallel rows, each row containing one lot of cigarettes, are formed on the catcher band. For general convenience a two-row arrangement is preferable in any case, to handle the large output of the machine easily. In order then that the output may be separated into two rows it is necessary that succeeding cigarettes shall be axially separated before they are delivered on to the band. This means that as the cigarettes are cut they must be accelerated axially and just prior to delivery on to the band their axial speed must be reduced as much as possible, preferably to zero, so that they can be moved on to the band in orderly fashion. The reduction in speed must be as gradual as possible to minimise the loss of tobacco from the ends of the cigarettes. The invention provides improved means for handling cigarettes in this manner.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for receiving cigarettes from the cut-off of a continuous rod cigarette-making machine comprising a rotatable wheel arranged aside (e.g. above) the rod line of the machine and having a peripheral groove shaped to receive a cigarette, said groove being provided with suction ports and means for sucking air through said ports to attract a cigarette to the wheel whereby a cigarette is caused to move at the peripheral speed of the wheel, which exceeds the linear speed of the rod, so that succeeding-cigarettes are separated axially. Where the wheel is arranged above the rod line, the cigarette may be supported on a flat plate arranged beneath the wheel.

The wheel may be constructed as a hollow member, and rotate on a fixed member arranged in its interior and shaped to constitute an air valve to cause suction to be applied, and cut off, to each port as it reaches certain points during the rotation of the wheel.

The peripheral groove may be of helical form and the wheel arranged to impart lateral movement to a cigarette as the latter is drawn along by the wheel.

In combination with the wheel there may be a fluted drum or equivalent conveyor arranged to receive successive cigarettes from the wheel into successive flutes. In some cases the wheel could be arranged to deliver two rows of cigarettes on to a catcher band in the ordinary way although the rows would be rather irregular in shape.

In combination with the wheel there may be provided a rotatable drum of a length exceeding two cigarette lengths and having flutes arranged axially on its periphery into which cigarettes are received from the grooved wheel, said drum having stops arranged about midway of its length and positioned in alternate flutes and end stops in the other flutes whereby alternate cigarettes travel the half length and the whole length respectively of a flute. The drum may be constructed as a suction drum with snaasse Patented June 19, 1962 ice suction ports in its flutes which tend to check the axial movement of the cigarettes and bring them to rest against the stops without appreciable shock. To secure the desired effect the midway stopped flutes may be subjected to stronger suction than the other flutes.

In addition to, or instead of, the suction ports in the flutes friction devices may be employed to arrest the axial movement of the cigarettes. For example, spring pressed pads or like friction members or brushes having suitably directed bristles may be used. Where such friction devices are employed alternate flutes of the drum are made deeper, the shallower flutes being those having stops at the mid-length. In this way cigarettes which have to travel the Whole length of a flute can pass the first friction device without hindrance and the outer diameter of the drum is reduced beyond the mid-length so that the second friction device can engage passing cigarettes effectively.

Apparatus according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan of the apparatus,

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of FIGURE 1, partly in section,

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of FIGURE 1, partly in section,

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of a suction wheel,

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 6 is a view in the same direction as FIG- URE 3, showing details of flutes of a fluted drum,

FIGURE 7 shows a form of braking device which is preferred to the one shown in FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 8 is a section of a suction wheel.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the cigarette rod which moves in the direction of the arrow. It is cut into separate cigarettes C on the line marked OO and the following rod will push a cut cigarette along over a plate 2 shown broken in FIGURE 1. hove this plate is rotatably mounted a wheel 3 having a hollow interior which contains an air valve 33, FIGURE 8, around which the wheel rotates and a suction pipe 34 is provided whereby suction may be exerted at given times through perforations in the rim of the wheel. It will be seen that the valve 33 is in close contact with the interior of the wheel 3 at the lower part. The perforations 4 may be seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 and a few are shown in FIG- URE 1, and their disposition will be discussed later. It will also be seen from FIGURE 5 as well as FIGURE 1 that the wheel rim has helical grooves 5 cut in it so that it looks very much like a worm. A three-start helix is provided in the example illustrated. From a comparison of FIGURES 1 and 2 it will be evident that a cut cigarette pushed by the following rod into a groove of the wheel will be attracted to said wheel by suction, applied at the correct time, and carried along over the plate 2. The peripheral speed of the wheel exceeds the rod speed, say by 10% and in this way a cigarette can be separated from the following rod.

To the left of the wheel as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2 there is a fluted drum 6 and just below it, in FIGURE 2, is a conveyor band 7, the catcher band, which is a normal feature of a cigarette machine. Stops 8 and 9 are fitted in the flutes of the drum and it will be seen from FIGURE 1 that alternate flutes contain respectively a stop 8 and a stop In this way alternate cigarettes delivered to the drum, as hereafter described, can come to rest against the stops and be located in the drum so that when they are deposited by the drum on to the catcher band two side-byside rows of cigarettes are formed on the band.

Referring mainly to FIGURE 2, the fluted drum is formed as a sleeve-like part It) with a boss 11 at one end by which it is fixed to a very rigid rotatable shaft 12. Inside the sleeve is an air-valve arrangement comprising a substantial sleeve 13 which is supported on a tubular part 14- which is mainly of circular cross-section but has a part cut away at 15 so as to provide an air passage. The tubular part 14- is fixed to a part 16 of the machine frame at 17 and supports the sleeve l3, which is normally fixed but can be rotated for adjustment as described later. The thick sleeve 13 has a long hole or port cut in it at 13 and another one on a different radius at 19. The dimensions of the drum sleeve 10 and the sleeve 13 are such that the former rotates on the latter without actually touching it, though the clearance is small. For the major part of the circumference the clearance is as seen in the lower part of FIGURE 2 but at the upper part where the suction ports are cut, the parts 1! and 13 are almost in contact and are so shown on the figure. The sleeve in has small holes or ports in its grooves, those in every other flute being made at the position shown in FIGURE 2 and the holes in the other flutes at a position where they will be relatively disposed with reference to the hole 19 exactly as the holes 20 are disposed with respect to the hole 13.

Each half-length of the drum 6 is provided with a cigarette arresting device which is arranged to engage a moving cigarette and exert light friction on it, suflicient to arrest its axial movement, either alone or aided by a suction braking effect exerted through the holes 20. The aim is to bring alternate cigarettes to rest just as they touch, or are about to touch, the stops 8 or 9. While it is desirable to have nicely aligned rows on the catcher band it is not imperative and the main purpose of the fluted drum is to receive and arrest cigarettes without exerting appreciable force on them so that they arrive on the catcher band in perfect condition. Alternate flutes in the drum illustrated are deeper than the others, these deeper flutes containing the stops 9. This is shown in FIGURE 6.

The arresting devices shown in FIGURES 1 to 3 consist of spring pressed pads 21 supported by flat springs 22. A screw 22 has a head which supports the unfixed end of the spring 22 and provides a stop to check chatter or undue spring movement after deflection. Spring pressure can be adjusted by the nut shown on the screw 23.

The arrangement just described is not completely satisfactory and the arrangement shown in FIGURE 7, is preferable. A spring 35 is fixed in clamps 36 and has a hump in it as shown. The position of the hump with respect to an oncoming cigarette can be regulated by a screw 37. The spring pressure is determined by the original set of the spring and the adjusted position of the hump determines the amount of interference between the cigarette and hump and thus the braking force. The screw acts as a stop for the spring as the latter moves back after the passage of a cigarette.

The drum is reduced in diameter beyond the point 13A FIGURE 1 and as shown in FIGURE 6 so that the arresting device at that end of the drum can operate on the cigarettes in the same manner as the arresting device for the shallower flutes. The deep flutes allow cigarettes to pass the first arresting device without hindrance. About 1 mm. difference is sufficient, see reference 33 FIGURE 6.

The remaining parts illustrated will be referred to in the following description of the apparatus:

As remarked previously a cigarette cut from the rod is pushed along by the following rod until its leading end reaches the position marked P in FIGURE 1. The wheel 3 has a radial line 24 made on it, see FIGURE 4, and for timing purposes this line should coincide with the position P as a cigarette comes to that position, the line being at the bottom of the wheel. As the latter rotates and suction is exerted through the ports of the particular helical groove which the cigarette has entered the cigarettewill be conveyed over the plate 2, being dragged by the wheel and further, owing to the angular disposition of the wheel, FIGURE 1, and the helix, the cigarette will be fed sideways by the wheel. The suction valve of the wheel is so arranged that only about two ports are subjected to suction at a time and as the wheel rotates suction to the leading port is stopped and opened to a succeeding port.

It is important that the trailing end of the cigarette shall not rub across the adjacent end of the following rod and to prevent this a stop pad 25 is provided against which the rear part of the cigarette engages so that the cigarette instead of having a bodily lateral movement imparted to it, has its trailing end stopped against lateral movement. The acceleration is such that before the rear end of the cigarette has moved clear of the stop pad the end is about in advance of the following rod. As the cigarette clears the pad it is carried forwards and laterally by the helix movement and enters a drum flute which is timed to receive a cigarette as the wheel feeds it forwards. If said cigarette enters a flute provided with a stop 8 it needs to be arrested promptly and this is effected by the friction of the spring pad 21 or by the combined effect of suction through the hole 18 and holes 26! in the flute. It is obviously desirable to avoid suction if possible but it can be used in combination with the spring pad if necessary.

A cigarette entering the next flute is handled in the same manner but as it has a long way to travel in a flute it can be arrested more easily.

Suction can be regulated as to time by moving the sleeve 13 around the tube 14 by means of a handle 26, the handle being movable in a slot 27 in the frame 16, see FIGURE 3.

Cigarettes thus received in the fluted drum 6 are carried round by the drum rotation, see dotted arrow in FIGURE 3, and deposited on the catcher band without shock as the band only travels slightly slower than the peripheral speed of the drum. To retain the cigarettes in the flutes during this movement concave shields 28 are provided. These are supported by a bracket 29 and the springs 22 and pads 21 are also attached to adjustable slides 32 attached to the sides of this bracket so that they can be adjusted around the axis of the drum, as can be seen from FIGURE 3. The bracket 29 is also adjustable along the drum length so that the time when a cigarette engages a spring pad can be adjusted.

In a modified form the bracket 29 is formed as two separate brackets so that they can be independently adjusted to bring the friction brakes, such as FIGURE 7 to the best position for the work in hand.

The stops 8 and previously referred to are preferably made with domed heads so that the dome contacts the tobacco and the cigarette is arrested without detriment to the paper tube and moreover the end is slightly compacted in this way.

Suction to the interior of the fluted drum is by way of a pipe 3% The driving arrangements are fairly clear from the drawing and need no detailed description and the drive and suction valve of wheel 3 have also been omitted.

While delivery into flutes of a drum or a fluted chain conveyor is preferable the wheel 3 could deliver cigarettes in one or two rows on to an ordinary catcher band. For a single row one brake would suflice for all cigarettes but for two rows lbraking pressure would require to be regulated for alternate cigarettes (as by a cam controlled brake) so that alternate cigarettes had differing pressures applied to them to cause them to come to a standstill on the proper part of the band.

The apparatus described is primarily intended for cigarettes but is also suitable for rod-like articles of similar kind, namely the various types of filter rod from which cigarette fillers are cut and which are usually made by a similar machine. That is the meaning of the phrase or similar rod-like articles in the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for receiving cigarettes or similar rodlike articles from the cut-oft" of a machine such as a continuous rod cigarette-making machine comprising a rotatable Wheel arranged above the rod line of the machine, said wheel having its axis transverse to the red line and having a peripheral groove of helical form and shaped to receive a cigarette, said groove being provided with suction ports and means for sucking air through said ports to attract a cigarette to the wheel whereby a cigarette is caused to move at the peripheral speed of the wheel, which exceeds the linear speed of the rod, so that succeeding cigarettes are separated axially and lateral movement is imparted to a cigarette as the latter is drawn along by the wheel.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a conveyor movable transversely of the red line of the machine and comprising flutes into which successive cigarettes are received from the rotatable Wheel to lie in laterally spaced relationship.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plate arranged beneath the wheel to support the cigarettes, said plate having a pad fixed thereto and arranged to engage the trailing end of a cigarette to prevent lateral movement of said end as the cigarette is moved by the helical groove of the wheel, to prevent rubbing action between the rear end of the said cigarette and the leading end of the following rod.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the conveyor is a rotatable fluted drum of a cylindrical shape and a length exceeding two cigarette lengths and having flutes arranged axially on its periphery into which cigarettes are received from the grooved wheel, said drum having stops arranged about midway of its length and positioned in alternate flutes: and end stops in the other flutes whereby alternate oigarettes travel the half length and the whole length respectively of a flute.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising friction devices arranged to contact cigarettes moving along the flutes of the drum and arrest their axial movement said drum having alternate flutes deeper, the deeper flutes having the said end stops and the shallower flutes having the stops about midway of their length.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 comprising suction ports in the flutes and means for exerting suction through said ports to check axial movement of the cigarettes and assist in bringing them to rest against the stops without appreciable shock.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising suction ports in the flutes and means for exerting suction through said last named ports to check axial movement of the cigarettes and assist in bringing them to rest against the stops without appreciable shock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,413,743 Lawrence Apr. 25, 1922 1,790,404 Bronander Jan. 27, 1931 1,838,193 Rundell Dec. 29, 1931 2,760,493 Bell Aug. 28, 1956 2,923,397 Parrish Feb. 2, 1960 

